International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day is Saturday, Nov. 23. The Chickasaw Nation Department of Family Services is working in collaboration with the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to host “Love Lives On,” an event for individuals who have lost loved ones to suicide.
The two-site event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, Nov. 22 at the Ada Community Center, 700 N. Mississippi Ave., Ada, Oklahoma, and the Tishomingo Community Center, 818 E. 6th St., Tishomingo, Oklahoma. On-site registration begins at 10:45 a.m.
“We decided to call it ‘Love Lives On,’ because though our loved one has died by suicide, our love for him or her lives on,” Deanna Carpitche, senior prevention coordinator for the Chickasaw Nation Department of Family Services, said.
Chickasaw Nation Department of Family Services Secretary Jay Keel will speak at the Ada event. Chickasaw Nation Department of Family Services Interim Executive Officer Cassie Sawatzky will speak at the Tishomingo event.
Attendees of both events can honor their loved ones through remembrance crafts. Corn husk flower creation classes and honor bead necklace and bracelet booths will be present at both “Love Lives On” events.
Lunch will be provided during a screening of an AFSP film depicting the importance of mental health resources and suicide prevention.
“It’s hard for people to come to an event like this, but it’s good because it focuses on the fact that there are others out there,” Carpitche said. “Sometimes survivors can feel like they’re the only one this has ever happened to and that’s not true.”
Carpitche said survivors of suicide loss can find it difficult to make connections with other survivors, but “Love Lives On” gives them that opportunity.
“Love Lives On” is open to the public.
For more information, contact Deanna Carpitche at (580) 421-8734 or Deanna.Carpitche@Chickasaw.net.